The New Year is approaching, and this is the biggest festival of the year besides the Shangyuan Festival. At the beginning and end of the year, every household offers sacrifices to their ancestors. Even the poorest families have to buy some sacrifices on this day and place them respectfully.
In front of the ancestors' tablets, they kowtow twice. The royal family pays more attention to not only offering sacrifices to their ancestors, but also to offering sacrifices to heaven. The princes do not have the right to offer sacrifices to heaven, but it is still okay to offer sacrifices to the gods who protect themselves.
In fact, before the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the biggest festival of the Chinese nation was the Shangyuan Festival. Speaking of this Shangyuan Festival, it has something to do with the Han Dynasty. After the death of the great ancestor Liu Bang, Emperor Hui Liu Ying succeeded to the throne, but Liu Ying was under the shadow of her mother Empress Lu
He completely lost his role as emperor and almost turned the Liu family into the Lu family. After Empress Lu died, Zhou Bo, Chen Ping and others united the princes and kings to pacify the Lus, and the day when the Lus were annihilated happened to be the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so
After Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty Liu Heng succeeded to the throne, he designated this day as a holiday, which gradually evolved into the Shangyuan Festival.
New Year is just a small festival. I am afraid that no one in the world except Su Ren pays such attention to it. Early in the morning, Su Ren used a carriage to pull a cart of gifts and went to pay New Year greetings to people he knew. Liu
Wu Hu was naturally the first, followed by Angel Duan Hong and Huainan King Liu An, followed by Liu Hong, Zuo Wu, Wu Bei, etc., and even Liu Qian received New Year's gifts from Su Ren.
After walking around Shouchun City, Su Ren returned to another courtyard. He wanted to personally cook and prepare a decent New Year's dinner for his men. Naturally, it couldn't be for everyone. He only invited familiar people, Chun Yuyi, Han
Qing, Hou Yong, Cang Lang Bei Gong Jin and Liu Kui. There were not many people, and with Huang Shisan, Man Niu and himself, there were exactly eight people at the table.
They are all idlers with no family and no mouth, so it is a kind of fate to be together. Moreover, in Shouchun, they are all outsiders, and drinking wine can bring them closer to each other.
Su Renxian picked up the wine glass: "Everyone, today is the New Year's Eve. This is the time to worship ancestors. Unfortunately, we are all out. Since we can't go home, I propose to offer this first glass of wine to our ancestors." After saying that, he poured the wine smoothly.
on the ground.
Everyone followed suit, and Chun Yuyi also faced the direction of Linzi and bowed respectfully. No one jumped out of the cracks in the rocks, except Su Ren. When talking about ancestors, they will naturally sigh.
Jiu Jin talked about things in his hometown, which aroused everyone's resonance. Someone said a nonsense, which brought everyone who was talking about it to reality, and everyone looked at Su Ren.
Han Qingdao: "Yes, sir, where is your original place? How come you have never heard of it before? How did you go to Shu County and meet your teacher? Today is a good day, how about you tell me?"
Su Ren was stunned for a second or two. In response to this question, he told too many lies, but if he told the truth, no one would believe it. It was not as convincing as his lie. Looking around, everyone looked at him.
, Su Ren coughed and put down the wine glass: "According to my tutor, I should be from Chang'an. I don't know if my parents are still alive. I have only been with my tutor since I can remember. I traveled all over the world with my tutor and settled in Wenling. It's a pity that I didn't wait.
I fulfilled my filial piety, but my master flew away on a crane, and I only came out because of the need to make a living."
"Then your name is after your teacher?"
"My master's surname is Zhang. I have never heard of my real name. The name Su Ren was given by my master. As for where it came from, I still don't know."
In a few words, he told the lie again, and there were too many unknowns in it. Even if someone wanted to investigate in the future, there would be no clues. What Su Ren wanted was this effect. Even with the advanced criminal investigation equipment of later generations, if he met a
A suspect who doesn't know anything will make the police scratch their heads when asked. What's more, it's still ancient times. Even he himself can't tell his origin, and others can't do it.
"Drink, drink!" Chun Yuyi glanced at Su Ren and picked up the wine glass with a smile: "Today is the New Year. I have been busy for a year and have to talk about happy things. No matter where this kid comes from, as long as it is not him
As long as he is his enemy, anyone who can't get along with him will have no good results."
Hou Yong laughed: "That's when I was still a captain at the gate of Lu'an City. With just one word from the teacher, I turned into a groom. I don't want to come back to those days again."
Huang Shisan slapped Hou Yong: "You have a better life than me. Back then, when we were still in Wenshui, my husband made a thunderous move and I almost died, hahaha...!"
Someone called me haha, and the topic naturally became more relaxed. Su Ren’s skills are pretty good, and they are all home-cooked dishes, which are better in taste. The winter in Huainan is not too cold, and many green vegetables can grow until late winter, which is perfect for
The protagonist at the banquet. Except for Chun Yuyi, few people had tasted Su Ren's craftsmanship. After eating it, they praised it endlessly. Finally, they understood why the Cuixianglou chain store opened by Su Ren attracted people all over the world.
After eating just in time, someone suddenly came to the door and announced that Liu An, the king of Huainan, had invited Su Ren to a banquet. Theoretically speaking, there was no New Year greeting in the Han Dynasty, let alone inviting outsiders to the home during this time of ancestor worship.
, even if you are a relative of the emperor.
Liu Kui frowned first: "What is King Huainan going to do?"
Su Ren smiled: "It should be a good thing. Since they said it was a invitation and not an arrest, it is naturally a good thing."
"What good can come of it? A few days ago, weren't you humiliated by sending Zuo Wu and Wu?" Hou Yong said angrily: "I don't think the King of Huainan has good intentions. Why don't you find a reason to shirk it?"
"You can't push it away. If you push it away, King Huainan might come in person. That would be even more unsightly. If the princes and kings are forced to humble themselves, Liu An will resent me for the rest of his life."
"Sir, do you really want to go?" Han Qing said.
Su Ren nodded, glanced at Huang Shisan and Man Niu, and the two immediately stood up to pack their things. They were Su Ren's personal guards. In this uncertain moment, they naturally had to follow Su Ren at all times.
beside.
Su Ren shook his robe, put down his rolled-up sleeves, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, everyone, the more this time comes, the less Liu An dares to do anything to me, not to mention that Duan Hong is here, and he is worried about the imperial army.
Woolen cloth."
When they went out, Huang Shisan and Man Niu were well prepared. They were fully armored, equipped with weapons and horses. No matter what the palace servants who came to invite Su Ren said, they also brought the white horses with them. If something happens, it is better to ride a horse than to ride in a car.
Hurry. The servants of the palace did not dare to say more, so they could only ask Su Ren to get in the car with his white horse.
After leaving the house, Su Ren said to Han Qing: "Take care of your home. You will be back by nightfall at the latest."
Han Qing nodded, and it could be heard from Su Ren's words that Su Ren was actually worried, otherwise there would be no time limit. If Su Ren didn't come back before dark, everyone with kinetic energy would be sent into the palace to grab it.
As soon as the carriage turned the corner, Han Qing immediately ordered Hou Yong to summon all the people to prepare, and then asked Cang Lang and Liu Kui to go back to prepare, and hurried out to contact Tiangang Disha.
Liu An and Liu Hong had been waiting for Su Ren. The servant came in to inform him. Liu An said his request, sent the servant out, and said to Liu Hong: "Hey! You and I are going to beg him. If I had known that I wouldn't be able to do it now."
You should have a beef with this kid."
Liu Hong shook his head: "Back then, he was just a merchant from a border county. In just a few years, he became so powerful. Who could have imagined?"
Liu An sighed again: "That's all, I'll deal with him slowly in the future."
When Su Ren came in, Liu An and Liu Hong stood up to greet him. Before Su Ren could salute, Liu An personally helped Su Ren up with a smile on his face: "Since the comet hit the moon, everything in Huainan has not been going well for me.
As the King of Huainan, I should take state affairs as my top priority and don’t have time to interview Su Zhonglang. Today, during the Chinese New Year, I have some free time and specially called Su Zhonglang here. Isn’t it going to disturb Su Zhonglang’s ancestor worship?”
"Your Majesty, you're welcome, but I still don't know where my ancestors are."
"Su Zhonglang is joking again. Who knows that Su Zhonglang is from Wenshui, Shu County?" Liu Hong also had a smile on his face.
Su Ren waved his hand: "That can be considered a hometown."
After sitting down, someone immediately brought wine and meat, beef and Erguotou from Cuixianglou. Seeing this posture, Su Ren knew that the King of Huainan was willing to risk everything. He valued him so much, so he should ask for something.
Liu An and Su Ren drank three cups in a row: "Su Zhonglang's mission to Huainan this time is on behalf of the younger brother of the King of Hengshan. Since the younger brother of the King has invited me to go to Chang'an with him, I have agreed to this matter and will wait until the Lantern Festival."
How about leaving?"
"Oh? Okay! Since the king has agreed, I will return to Lu'an in a few days to deliver a message to the King of Hengshan."
Liu An smiled and said, "Don't be so anxious, Su Zhonglang. You have to go to Chang'an and pass by Hengshan Kingdom. It won't be too late to go back then! Our Huainan Kingdom is in troubled times now. Let me settle down for a while. If there is any delay, there may be some delay."
, for the specific time to set off, we have to check if there are other things going on at Shangyuan Festival Junior High School."
Su Ren nodded: "Your Majesty, your concern is appropriate, as it should be. I am worried."
"Will Mr. Su also return to Chang'an this time?" Liu Hong asked.
Su Ren smiled: "I can't compete with the king. Your Majesty and the imperial court have asked me to appease the Yue people. Although there has been some progress in this matter, it is inconvenient for me to return to Chang'an without an order from the imperial court."
"Oh? Is there any trouble in appeasing the Yue people? Mr. Su, let me know. If I, the Huainan Kingdom, can help, I will definitely help."
"Thank you, Your Majesty and the Fifth Young Master." Su Ren looked at Liu An: "The King of Hengshan donated the surrounding areas of Jiangsu to us to resettle the Yue people, but it was a drop in the bucket. There were too many Yue people, the place was too small, and there was a lack of cattle and farm tools.
What's more, the Yue people are not good at farming and cannot be self-sufficient for a while. In order to prevent the Yue people from causing trouble, I can only stay here until the Yue people have completely settled down."
Liu An nodded: "Su Zhonglang's concern is indeed right. The Yue people are aggressive and have been moved to Jianghuai. If something goes wrong, it will be a big deal. Hong'er, you have good relations with Huainan merchants. If you can help Su Zhong
Lang should do his best to share the worries of His Majesty and the imperial court."
Liu Hong said quickly: "Father, don't worry, I will find those merchants when I get back. If there is anyone who can help, I will definitely help."
Su Ren immediately stood up and saluted Liu An: "Your Majesty is worried about the world and has devoted himself to my great man. I admire you. When I see your Majesty, I will tell you what happened today and ask your Majesty to record your merits for your Majesty."
Liu An laughed, waved his hands and said: "I am a descendant of the surname Liu. This matter is unshirkable. If you don't do it, the world will laugh at you! Come on, raise your glasses, let's get down to business. For the rest of the time, my father and son and Mr. Su will
